Abstract
The tensile deformation and fracture behaviour of aluminium alloy 2014 discontinuously-reinforced with particulates of Al2O3 was studied with the primary objective of understanding the influence of reinforcement content on composite microstructure, tensile properties and quasi-static fracture behaviour. Results reveal that elastic modulus and strength of the metal-matrix composite increased with reinforcement content in the metal matrix. With increase in test temperature the elastic modulus showed a marginal decrease while the ductility exhibited significant improvement. The improved strength of the Al-Al2O3 composite is ascribed to the concurrent and mutually interactive influences of residual stresses generated due to intrinsic differences in thermal expansion coefficients between constituents of the composite, constrained plastic flow and triaxiality in the soft and ductile aluminium alloy matrix due to the presence of hard and brittle particulate reinforcements. Fracture on a microscopic scale initiated by cracking of the individual or agglomerates of Al2O3 particulates in the metal matrix and decohesion at the matrix-particle interfaces. Failure through cracking and decohesion at the interfaces increased with reinforcement content in the matrix. The kinetics of the fracture process is discussed in terms of applied far-field stress and intrinsic composite microstructural effects.
Similar content being viewed by others
References
L. N. Mueller, J. L. Prohaska and J. W. Davis, in Proceedings of AIAA Aerospace Engineering Conference (AIAA, Los Angeles, California).
D. A.Koss and S. M.Copley: Metall. Trans. 2A (1971) 1557.
A. P.Divecha, C. R.Crowe and S. G.Fishman, “Failure Modes in Composites IV ” (Metallurgical Society of American Institute of Mining, Metallurgical and Petroleum Engineers, Warrendale, PA, 1977) pp.406–411.
A. P.Divecha, S. G.Fishman and S. D.Karmarkar, J. Met. 33 (1981) 12.
M.Taya and R. J.Arsenault, in “Metal Matrix Composites: Thermomechanical Behavior”, (Pergamon Press, Elmsford, New York, 1989).
T. S.Srivatsan and T. S.Sudarshan: in “Rapid Solidification Technology: An Engineering Guide”, edited by T. S. Srivatsan and T. S. Sudarshan (Technomic Publishing Inc., PA, 1993) pp. 603–700.
L. M.Brown and W. M.Stobbs, Phil. Mag. 23 (1971) 1185.
S. V.Nair, J. K.Tien and R. C.Bates, Int. Met. Rev. 30 (1985) 285.
D. L.McDanels, Metall. Trans. 16A (1985) 1105.
S.Dermarkar, Met. Mater. 2 (1986) 144.
W. H. Hunt, Jr, C. R. Cook and R. R. Sawtell “Cost Effective High Performance Powder Metallurgy Aluminum Matrix Composites for Automotive Applications,” SAE Technical Paper Series 910834, February 1991, Warrendale, PA.
W. R. East, Mater. Eng. March (1988) 33.
R. DeMeis, Aerosp. Amer. March (1989) 26.
T. C. Willis, Met. Mater. August (1988) 485.
Y.Sugimura and S.Suresh, Metall. Trans. 23A (1992) 2231.
P. K.Liaw and W. A.Logsdon, Eng. Fract. Mech. 24 (1986) 737.
I. J.Lewandowski, C.Liu and W. H.Hunt, Jr, in “Interfacial Phenomenon in Composites: Processing, Characteristics and Mechanical Properties” (Metallurgical Society of American Institute of Mining, Metallurgical and Petroleum Engineers, Warrendale, PA, 1988).
J. K.Shang and R. O.Ritchie, Metall. Trans. 20A (1989) 897.
, Acta Metall. 37 (1989) 2267.
J. J.Lewandowski, C.Liu and W. H.Hunt, Jr. Mater. Sci. Eng. 107A (1989) 49.
D. L.Davidson, J. Mater. Sci. 24 (1989) 681.
, Eng. Fract. Mech. 33 (1989) 965.
M.Manoharan and J. J.Lewandowski, Acta Metall. 38 (1990) 489.
, Scripta Metall. 23 (1989) 301.
T. S.Srivatsan and J.Mattingly, J. Mater. Sci. 23 (1993) 611.
G. J.Dvorak, in “Metal Matrix Composites: Mechanisms and Properties”, edited by R. K. Everett and R. J. Arsenault (Academic Press, San Diego, CA, 1991) pp. 1–70.
V. C.Nardone, Scripta Metall. 21 (1987) 1313.
R. L.Mehan, “Metal Matrix Composites”, ASTM STP (American Society for Testing and Materials, Philadelphia, 1968) p. 43.
G. J.Dvorak, M. S. M.Rao and I. Q.Tarn, J. Compos. Mater. 7 (1973) 194.
R. J.Arsenault and R. M.Fisher, Scripta Metall. 17 (1983) 67.
R. J.Arsenault, Mater. Sci. Eng. 64 (1984) 171.
R. J.Arsenault, L.Wang and C. R.Feng, Acta Metall. Mater. 39 (1991) 47.
M.Vogelsang, R. J.Arsenault and R. M.Fisher, Metall. Trans. 127A (1986) 379.
Y.Flom and R. J.Arsenault, Mater. Sci. Eng. 77 (1986) 191.
M. F.Ashby and L.Johnson, Phil. Mag. 20 (1969) 1009.
F. J. Humphreys, in 9th Riso International Symposium on Metallurgy and Materials Science, Mechanical Properties and Physical Behavior of Metals and Composites, Roskilde, Denmark, 1988, p. 51.
A. S.Argon, I.Im and R.Safoglu, Metall. Trans. 6A (1975) 825.
R. J.Arsenault, in “Composite Structures”, edited by I. H. Marshall (Elsevier Science Publishers, London, 1987) pp. 70–90.
, in “Metal Matrix Composites: Mechanisms and Properties, edited by R. K. Everett and R. J. Arsenault (Academic Press, San Diego, 1991) pp. 79–87.
W. J.Clegg, Acta Metall. 36 (1988) 2141.
M.Taya, K. E.Lulay and D. J.Lloyd: Acta Metallurgica Materialia, Vol. 39, 1991, pp. 73–80.
M.Taya, Mater. Trans.: Jpn Inst. Met. 32 (1991) 1.
D. J.Lloyd, Acta Metall. 39 (1991) 59.
R. J.Arsenault, J. Compos. Techn. Res. 10 (1988) 140.
R. J.Arsenault and M.Taya, Acta Metall. 35 (1987) 651.
T.Mochida, M.Taya and D. J.Lloyd, Mater. Trans. JIM. 32 (1991) 931.
D. C.Drucker, in “High Strength Materials”, edited: V. F. Zackey (Wiley Interscience, New York, 1965).
T. W.Butler and D. C.Drucker, J. Appl. Mech. 40 (1973) 780.
K.Tanaka and T.Mori, Acta Metall. 18 (1979) 931.
N.Hansen, Acta Metall. 25 (1977) 863.
K. K.Chawla and M.Metzger, J. Mater. Sci. 17 (1972) 34.
M.Taya and T.Mori, Acta Metall. 35 (1987) 155.
M. F.Ashby, Phil. Mag. 21 (1970) 399.
F. A.McClintock, “Ductility” (American Society for Metals, Metal Park, Ohio, 1968) pp. 256–261.
R. H.Vanstone, T. B.Cox, J. R.Low, Jr and J. A.Psioda, Int. Met. Rev. 30 (1975) 157.
A. S.Argon, J.Im and R.Safoglu, Metall. Trans. 6A (1975) 825.
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Srivatsan, T.S. Microstructure, tensile properties and fracture behaviour of Al2O3 particulate-reinforced aluminium alloy metal matrix composites. JOURNAL OF MATERIALS SCIENCE 31, 1375–1388 (1996). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00353120
Received:
Accepted:
Published:
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00353120